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Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead held a productive meeting yesterday with members of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, to discuss the continuing situation of the mackerel stock being overfished by the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Following the meeting, Mr Lochhead said: "Both government and industry strongly believe that a new coastal states agreement is needed if we are to safeguard the valuable mackerel fishery - but that we cannot do a deal at any cost. The meeting with the SPFA was very productive and emphasised again our willingness to work together to achieve a solution.
"The irresponsible actions of the Faroe Islands and Iceland places the future of the shared mackerel fishery at risk and it is regrettable that the situation has been allowed to continue for another fishing season. We look forward to the European Commission introducing meaningful and effective proposals on sanctions in the next few weeks. We cannot afford to let this situation continue any longer and countries must not be allowed to ignore their international obligations."
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